The sun was still low when Kushina was already standing on the training ground.
"So… these stupid chains…"
She stretched out her hand.
Nothing happened.
Kushina narrowed her eyes.
"Come on… it worked yesterday!"
Silence.
A bird chirped.
Kushina made a face.
"Great. Now I can't even function properly anymore."
"Maybe it's because you have no idea what you're doing."
Kushina turned sharply.
A man stood at the edge of the field.
Arms crossed.
Calm.
Watching.
"And who are you?"
"Someone who wants to stop you from destroying half the village."
Kushina scoffed.
"It wasn't that bad."
"Three cracks in the ground."
A pause.
"And two children who can't train today."
Kushina muttered,
"They were in the way…"
"No."
His voice remained calm.
"You lost control."
Kushina lifted her chin defiantly.
"I HAVE control."
"Then show it."
Silence.
Kushina turned back forward.
"…Fine."
She took a deep breath.
"Don't push… don't shout… just do it…"
Nothing.
"…This has to be a joke…"
"You're looking in the wrong place."
Kushina tilted her head slightly.
"Oh really? And where should I look, oh great master?"
"Inside yourself."
Kushina rolled her eyes.
"Wow. That was really helpful."
A faint, almost invisible smile crossed his face.
"What did you feel yesterday?"
Kushina hesitated.
Then, quieter,
"…Pressure."
"Where?"
She placed a hand on her stomach.
"Here."
His expression shifted, just slightly.
"Good."
Kushina looked at him sideways.
"Good? It feels like something is crushing me from the inside."
"Because you are fighting it."
"Of course I am! It's supposed to do what I want!"
He stepped closer.
Not threatening.
But present.
"That won't work."
Kushina glared at him.
"And why not?"
"Because this is not a simple power."
A pause.
"And you are not the first to carry it."
Kushina froze for a moment.
Then steadied herself.
"…You know more than you're saying."
"Yes."
"And you're not going to tell me."
"Not yet."
Kushina crossed her arms.
"Then you don't need to teach me anything."
Silence.
The man looked at her calmly.
"Yes, I do."
Kushina raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yeah?"
"Because otherwise you won't survive."
…
Silence.
Even Kushina had nothing to say for a moment.
Then
"…You're really bad at being nice."
A quiet chuckle.
"I'm not here to be nice."
Kushina smirked.
"Good. Neither am I."
She turned forward again.
This time slower.
Calmer.
She closed her eyes.
Breathed in.
Out.
"…Don't fight it…"
That feeling again.
Warm.
Heavy.
There.
Kushina spoke quietly,
"I know you're there."
The feeling responded.
Not aggressive.
Not like before.
Kushina slowly raised her hand.
A faint glow appeared.
Then
Slowly.
Very slowly.
A chain formed.
It moved.
Calm.
Controlled.
Kushina's eyes opened slightly.
"…Got you…"
The chain held.
For a moment.
Then another.
And another.
Only then did it break apart.
Kushina lowered her hand.
And grinned.
"There we go."
The man gave a small nod.
"Better."
Kushina turned to him.
"Better? That was really good."
"It was a beginning."
Kushina crossed her arms.
"You're really hard to impress."
"You have to be."
A pause.
Then he said,
"If you want to become stronger."
Kushina studied him.
Briefly.
Carefully.
Then
"You're not a normal shinobi, are you?"
He did not answer immediately.
"I saw the way you were watching me."
A pause.
"You're not afraid."
Silence.
Then he said calmly,
"Fear won't help you control it."
Kushina smiled slightly.
"So you do know what you're talking about."
He looked at her.
Directly.
"Yes."
Kushina held his gaze.
Then nodded once.
Clear.
Determined.
"Good."
A pause.
"Then teach me everything."
The man was silent for a moment.
Then he said,
"I will train you."
Kushina lifted her chin slightly.
"And I will become better than everyone else."
A hint of pride in her voice.
The man studied her.
Still.
For too long.
Kushina frowned.
"What is it?"
He did not answer right away.
For a moment, his gaze changed.
Not strict.
Not calm.
But heavy.
As if he were seeing something that was no longer there.
"…You're just like her."
Kushina blinked.
"Like who?"
Silence.
The wind moved across the training ground.
The man looked at her again.
This time, truly looked at her.
Then he looked away.
"It doesn't matter."
Kushina made a face.
"Yes, it does."
"You talk like you know everything."
She stepped closer.
"Then tell me."
He stayed silent.
Too long.
Then he said quietly,
"I once trained someone."
Kushina stilled.
"And?"
A pause.
His voice grew quieter.
Heavier.
"I couldn't protect her."
Kushina's expression softened slightly.
"…Did she die?"
The man closed his eyes briefly.
"Yes."
Silence.
Kushina looked at him.
Then she said calmly,
"I'm not her."
He opened his eyes.
His gaze was clear.
"I hope not."
Kushina raised an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That you will have to be stronger."
Kushina smirked.
"Don't worry."
A pause.
Then, firmer,
"I won't let myself be broken."
The man studied her.
Then nodded slowly.
"Good."
Kushina crossed her arms.
"Now at least tell me your name before I keep being disrespectful."
A hint of humor in her voice.
He answered,
"Daichi Uzumaki."
Kushina grinned.
"There we go."